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Show 328 DWARF ELDER. when takeninto the stomach, manifests a greater shareofactive power. The root of the ebulus, which is white, fleshy, and of a nauseous bitter taste, was formerly very generally employed in dropsies. A decoction of two drachms of it, or a small quantity of its expressed juice, promotes both the alvine and urinarydischarges; andif the decoctionis prepared from the bark of the fresh root, its activity is so much increased, that it commonly proves both emetic and cathartic. The inner bark of the stalk, when recent, is equally powerful in evacuating the prime vie ; and its effects, as a diuretic, on the testimony of Dr. Brocklesby, were found to be very considerable; but its operation is so violent and precarious, that it is now very rarely employed. The berries, in their recent state, according to Scopoli, prove a gentle cathartic, though Haller says that he never experienced this effect from their use. Theseeds are said to be diuretic, and to have been given with advantage in dropsical complaints: they also afford an oil, which Haller applied with success in painful affections of the joints. The leaves, boiled in wine, and formed into a cataplasm, have been recommended in Franceas a discutient application to con- ELM-LEAVED SUMACH. RHUS CORIARIA. tusions and tumours. Class V. Pentandria. Tere; Gen. Cnar, Pp BC. Cusr:: Order III. Trigynia. Calyxfive-parted: Petals five: Berry one seed. 3 , obtusely g 5 Leaves pinnate, serrate, oval, underneathvillous. ee DESCRIPTION, Tus is a small tree, rises ten feet. Leaves are pinnate, composed of several pinne, which are lance-shaped, obtusely sawed, smooth above, hairy beneath ; ends with an odd leaf. The common footstalk is somewhat winged. together, in a long spike. Flowers small, bundled HISTORY. Shan of sumachis a native of the south of Europe, and to have beencultivated j a the Catalogus Horti Oxoniensis still a s. it is . garden previous to the year 1648, though Scarce plant in this eountry. |